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California Prisoner Paid $5,150 for Medical Shoe Denial

California prison officials paid a prisoner $5,150 to settle his claims related to the denial of medically necessary shoes.

When California prisoner Andrew Lopez was transferred on February 15, 2001, he was denied items of his personal property, including medically necessary shoes.

When Lopez grieved the denial of his medically necessary shoes, prison officials claimed that his shoes were not authorized because he lacked a "shoe chrono," issued by the prison doctor.

On December 20, 2001, "Dr. Carl Brown issued a shoe chrono reaffirming that Mr. Lopez 'is under medical management and observation for a developmental foot disorder which it indicates he should continue to be provided with state issued boots in accordance with previous examination and chronos.'"

Two prison officials then issued a July 22, 2002 memorandum, making all shoe chronos null and void. Even so, a podiatrist re-examined Lopez on September 17, 2002, and re-prescribed a chrono requiring the issuance of "soft shoes size 9 EEE." A nurse later told Lopez, however, that the September 17, 2002 shoe chrono would not be issued, due to the July 22, 2002 memorandum.

On November 13, 2002, Lopez was told Captain Andrews was responsible for all clothing issues. Lopez sent Andrews numerous requests for extra wide shoes, as prescribed by doctors, but Andrews did not respond to any of those requests.

On January 20, 2004, Lopez brought federal suit, alleging that the denial of medical shoes constituted deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs and violated due process.

On September 29, 2008, prison officials agreed to pay Lopez $5,150 to settle his suit. See: Lopez v. Scribner, U.S.D.C. (E.D. Cal.), Case No. 1:04-cv-05595-DLB.

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Related legal case

Lopez v. Scribner